Realities and Responses: A Community Forum on the Sex Trade

YWCA Events

Event Date April 24, 2014

Organized by Moncton’s Sex Work Action Group. Supported by AIDS Moncton, Crime Prevention Association of New Brunswick, Public Safety Advisory Committee of Moncton, and YWCA Moncton.

Brinton Auditorium, Crandall University, 333 Gorge Road, Moncton

Registration: $50 ($25 non-profit agency; limited subsidized seats available). Parking, health breaks, and lunch provided.

The purpose of this forum is not to investigate the sex trade in our community from a theoretical angle or to establish whether the sex trade is “right” or “wrong.” Rather, the Community Forum will examine the day-to-day realities of the sex trade, with particular focus on the challenges faced by women involved in the street-level sex trade (i.e. conflict with the law, barriers to accessing services, social exclusion), as well as how—and why—Canada’s legal landscape is changing in the wake of the Supreme Court of Canada’s Bedford Decision on prostitution-related offenses.

Special guests with research expertise on the sex trade in the Maritimes (Leslie Ann Jeffrey and Gayle MacDonald) will present, as well as individuals who were involved in the Bedford case (Sandra K. H. Chu from the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, an Intervenor in the Bedford Decision; Amy Lebovitch, an Applicant in the Bedford Decision, via video). Additionally, the RCMP will provide a presentation on human trafficking as it relates to the sex trade.

In addition to presentations, the day will include break-out discussion sessions to allow for dialogue amongst those in attendance. As presentations will focus on women in the sex trade, these sessions will provide a space to reflect on learnings and also explore how the sex trade impacts the community it is located within (such as posing nuisance and safety-related challenges for businesses, residents, etc.).

CONTACT INFORMATION

General inquiries

Debby Warren, AIDS Moncton

(506) 859-9616

sidaidsm@nb.aibn.com

To register

Robert Gallant, Public Safety Advisory Committee

(506) 855-8525

rgallant@ravenssun.ca

Click here to download the full Forum overview and registration form (PDF).